The arc lights are blinding but the allure is irresistible. For some it’s the lure of the lucre. For others it’s the fawning fans. Very rarely is it an endeavour for the passion of cinema as an art form that can hold you captive in a darkened hall, teasing, tantalising and transporting you from drudgery for a price. Fame is fickle with fortunes swinging every Friday but aspirants flock like moths to a bright light. Some glow while most just fizzle.
Darkness doesn’t discriminate and that’s why the theatre is the most democratic place. It’s the filmmaker’s ability to elicit emotions that unite us irrespective of caste, creed or colour. The film industry is no different. It opens its wide arms and embraces people with neither skills nor qualification. Many people learn while they earn. Not everybody succeeds. People like N.Veeraswamy, LV Prasad and AV Meiyappa Chettiar built empires because they had an eye for talent and an ear for stories that would strike a universal chord. They’ve all passed away but left a treasure of films you can revisit. Today it’s people who’ve amassed wealth elsewhere who turn producers. After a crop of star sons, it is politicians who’re funding films to fulfil their son’s fantasies. The sons are promptly packed away to a foreign shore to learn martial arts. A physical trainer, mostly foreign, is hired to help build muscle and a reputed choreographer to hone dancing skills. Acting lessons are the last priority. Directors are hired to design and showcase the youngster’s physical skills.
Yesteryear stars like MGR and NTR depended on their on-screen charisma and deeds to lure voters. They used cinema as a stepping stone to further their political ambitions. Fans who paid to watch their on-screen heroics also voted for them when they turned politicians. Today political scions probably feel they can don Khadi when they’re old. “I don’t need cinema to enter politics,” claims Udayanidhi Stalin who was a successful producer till the acting bug bit him. After riding piggyback on Santhanam’s gags for a few films he’s being praised for his performance in ‘Manithan’, a remake of ‘Jolly LLB’. It’s definitely not a patch on Arshad Warsi’s in the original but Uday can afford to persist in the profession. How long the public will pay to watch him learn to emote is another question. Kumar Bangarappa is another political scion who was stone-faced in any character he played and thrust himself on hapless film fans till better sense prevailed. His brother Madhu gave up rather tamely. Ritesh Deshmukh is the only one who’s shown some flair for acting and believe me, that’s no compliment.
H.D. Kumaraswamy is producing a magnum opus to introduce his son Nikhil Gowda. The former CM knows the tricks of the trade having produced and distributed films but trade pundits feel love has clouded his prudence. The scale is mammoth and the budget massive which has aroused curiosity but political foes are waiting for the father to falter. Vijayendra Prasad, a renowned script writer has penned the story. Surprisingly no famous name has been signed to star in the female lead. The ‘teaser’ shows Nikhil undergoing rigorous physical training and shaking a leg. About his acting skills we’ll know when the film is released. Kumaraswamy’s friend turned foe, Zameer Ahmed Khan is also producing a film to introduce his son.
A couple of days back curiosity drew me to a multiplex which had listed one show of ‘Lakshmana’ starring Anup, son of congress bigwig H.M. Revanna. I didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved since the film had been removed unceremoniously. The fate of the film is not any better, elsewhere. The trailer had the youngster shouting he was a six foot weapon even as he held a massive ‘long’ in his hand. Sparkling white attire and a microphone in hand would have probably suited him better. Cinema should not be treated as the last resort for the aimless.
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